Strap device for reinforcing luggage and the like

Abstract

A strap device for luggage, bags, cartons or the like to prevent the luggage from opening when subjected to rough handling. The strap device includes a pair of straps which encircle the luggage and pass on either side of a handle on the luggage. A pair of cross straps are secured between the encircling straps and confine and surround the handle such that the device cannot be slid off or pulled off the luggage. No additional connection or attachment between the strap device and luggage is required. Various mechanical and hook and loop fasteners can be used to secure and tighten the encircling straps.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A strap device for reinforcing luggage, bags, cartons or the like comprising: a pair of first, spaced strap means for encircling a piece of luggage or the like, said first strap means adapted to extend along a first pair of opposed sides of a protruding handle on a luggage piece;   a pair of cross strap means secured at spaced positions on and extending between said first strap means for holding said first strap means together, said cross strap means adapted to extend along a second pair of opposed sides fo the protruding handle of a luggage piece or the like;   each of said first strap means and cross strap means being formed from flexible, stretch resistant material;   securing means on one end of each of said first strap means for securing the respective ends of said first strap means to one another to encircle and reinforce a luggage piece or the like; engaging means on the opposite end of each of said first strap means for engaging said securing means on said one end to form each of said first strap means into a closed loop for encircling the luggage without said securing means or engaging means engaging said cross strap means;   said cross strap means and the portions of said first strap means between said spaced cross strap means forming confining means for surrounding and receiving therein the protruding handle on the luggage piece or the like to prevent said strap device from sliding or being pulled off the luggage piece when said first strap means are secured around the luggage piece with said securing means and engaging means.   
     
     
       2. A strap device for reinforcing luggage, bags, cartons or the like comprising; a pair of first, spaced strap means for encircling a piece of luggage or the like, said first strap means adapted to extend along a first pair of opposed side of a protruding handle on a luggage piece;   a pair of croas strap means secured at spaced positions on and extending between said first strap means for holding said first strap means together, said cross strap means adapted to extend along a second pair of opposed sides of the protruding handle of a luggage piece or the like;   each of said first strap means and cross strap means being formed from flexible, stretch resistant material;   securing means on at least one end of each of said first strap means for securing the respective ends of said first strap means to one another to encircle and reinforce a luggage piece or the like; said securing means including a mechanical securing device; the opposite ends of said first strap means including hook and loop fastener means for securing said opposite ends to another portion of said first strap means after passing through said mechanical securing device; said cross strap means and the portions of said first strap means between said spaced cross strap means forming confining means for surrounding and receiving therein the protruding handle on the luggage piece or the like to prevent said strap device from sliding or being pulled off the luggage piece when said first strap means are secured around the luggage piece with said securing means.   
     
     
       3. The strap device of claim 2 wherein said mechanical securing device on each first strap means includes a pair of D-rings pivotally secured at said one end of each first strap means. 
     
     
       4. A strap device for reinforcing luggage, bags, cartons or the like comprising: a pair of first, spaced strap means for encricling a piece of luggage or the like, said first strap means adapted to extend along a first pair of opposed sides of a protruding handle on a luggage piece;   a pair of cross strap means secured at spaced positions on and extending between said first strap means for holding said first strap means together, said cross strap means adapted to extend along a second pair of opposed sides of the protruding handle of a luggage piece or the like;   each of said first strap means and cross strap means being formed from flexible, stretch resistant material;   securing means on at least one end of each of said first strap means for securing the respective ends of said first strap means to one another to encircle and reinforce a luggage piece or the like; the opposite end of each of said first strap means including second securing means for securing said opposite end to another portion of said first strap means after securing with the first of said securing means; said cross strap means and the portions of said first strap means between said spaced cross strap means forming confining means for surrounding and receiving therein the protruding handle ont he luggage piece or the like to prevent said strap device from sliding or being pulled off the luggage piece when said first strap means are secured around the luggage piece with said securing means.   
     
     
       5. A strap device of claim 4 wherein said second securing means include hook and loop fastener means for securing said opposite end of said first strap means to another portion of said first strap means, a portion of said fastener means secured at a position spaced from another portion of said fastener means on the same side of each of said first strap means. 
     
     
       6. The strap device of claim 1 including an additional cross strap means extending between said first strap menas at a position spaced from said pair of cross strap means for aiding the retention of said first strap means together. 
     
     
       7. The strap device of claim 1 wherein said first strap means include a pair of woven fabric straps of generally equal length and being generally coterminous with one another. 
     
     
       8. A strap device for reinforcing luggage, bags, cartons or the like comprising: a pair of first, spaced strap means for encircling a piece of luggage or the like, said first strap means adapted to extend along a first pair of opposed sides of a protruding handle on a luggage piece;   a pair of cross strap means secured at spaced positions on and extending between said first strap means for holding said first strap means together, said cross strap means adapted to extend along a second pair of opposed sides of the protruding handle of a luggage piece or the like;   each of said first strap means and cross strap means being formed from flexible, stretch resistant material;   securing means on at least one end of each of said first strap means for securing the respective ends of said first strap means to one another to encricle and reinforce a luggage piece or the like;   said cross strap means and the portions of said first strap means between said spaced cross strap means forming confining means for surrounding and receiving therein the protruding handle on the luggage piece or the like to prevent said strap device from sliding or being pulled off the luggage piece when said first strap means are secured around the luggage piece with said securing means;   said first strap means including a pair of woven fabric straps of generally equal length and being generally coterminous with one another; said cross strap means including a pair of woven fabric straps of generally equal length extending at a right angle to said first straps.   
     
     
       9. The strap device of claim 8 wherein said cross straps are spaced apart along said first straps a distance less than the distance by which said parallel first straps are spaced apart. 
     
     
       10. A strap device for reinforcing luggage, bags, cartons or the like comprising: a pair of parallel first straps, each first strap being formed from flexible stretch resistant material, said first straps being generally of equal length and spaced from one another a predetermined first distance;   a pair of parallel cross straps extending at right angles to and secured in fixed positions between said first straps, each of said cross straps being formed from flexible, stretch resistant material, said cross straps being spaced from one another less than said first distance;   securing means on at least one end of each of said first straps for securing the ends of said respective first straps together such that each forms a closed loop reinforcement adapted to encircle a piece of luggage or the like;   said cross straps and the portions of said first straps between said cross straps forming a confining means for receiving therein a protruding handle from said luggage piece or the like and preventing removal of said strap device from said piece of luggage when said first straps are secured around said luggage with said securing means.   
     
     
       11. The strap device of claim 10 wherein said securing means include a pair of D-rings pivotally secured to one end of each of said first straps, the opposite end of each first strap adapted to be received through and held by said D-rings to encircle a luggage piece or the like. 
     
     
       12. The strap device of claim 11 wherein each of said opposite ends of said first straps include one portion of a hook and loop-type fastener, another portion of said fastener being secured to said each of said first straps at a position spaced from said opposite end whereby said opposite ends may be secured to other portions of said first straps after passing through said D-rings 
     
     
       13. The strap device of claim 12 wherein each of said first straps and cross straps is formed from woven fabric material. 
     
     
       14. The combination of a piece of luggage of the type including a handle protruding a from one surface thereof and a strap device for reinforcing said luggage against opening, said strap device comprising: a pair of first, spaced strap means for encircling said luggage, said first strap means adapted to extend along a first pair of opposed sides of a protruding handle on said luggage piece;   a pair of cross strap means secured at spaced positions on and extending between said first strap means for holding said first strap means together, said cross strap means adapted to extend along a second pair of opposed sides of said protruding handle;   each of said first strap means and cross strap means being formed from flexible, stretch resistant material;   securing means on one end of each of said first strap means for securing the respective ends of said first strap means to one another to encircle and reinforce said luggage piece; engaging means on the opposite end of each of said first strap means for engaging said securing means on said one end to form each of said first strap means into a closed loop for encircling said luggage without said securing means or engaging means engaging said cross strap means;   said cross strap means and the portions of said first strap means between said spaced cross strap means forming confining means for surrounding and receiving therein said protruding handle on said luggage piece to prevent said strap device from sliding or being pulled off said luggage piece when said first strap means are secured around said luggage piece with said securing means and engaging means.   
     
     
       15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said securing means include a pair of D-rings pivotally secured at said one end of each first strap means. 
     
     
       16. The combination of a piece of luggage of the type including a handle protruding from one surface thereof and a strap device for reinforcing said luggage against opening, said strap device comprising: a pair of first, spaced strap means for encircling said luggage, said first strap means adapted to extend along a first pair of opposed sides of a protruding handle on said luggage piece;   a pair of cross strap means secured at spaced positions on and extending between said first strap means for holding said first strap means together, said cross strap means adapted to extend along a second pair of opposed sides of said protruding handle;   each of said first strap means and cross strap means being formed from flexible, stretch resistant material;   securing means on at least one end of each of said first strap means for securing the respective ends of said first strap means to one another to encircle and reinforce said luggage piece;   the opposite end of each of said first strap means including second securing means for securing said opposite end to another portion of said first strap means after securing with the first of said securing means;   said cross strap means and the poritons of said first strap means between said spaced cross strap means forming confining means for surrounding and receiving therein said protruding handle on said luggage piece to prevent said strap device from sliding or being pulled off said luggage piece when said first strap means are secured around said luggage piece with said securing means.   
     
     
       17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said second securing means include hook and loop fastener means for securing said opposite end of said first strap means to another portion of said first strap means, a portion of said fastener means secured at a position spaced from another portion of said fastener means on the same side of each of said first strap means. 
     
     
       18. The combination of claim 14 wherein said first strap means include a pair of woven fabric straps of generally equal length and being generally parallel to and coterminous with one another. 
     
     
       19. The combination of a piece of luggage of the type including a handle protruding from one surface thereof and a strap device for reinforcing said luggage against opening, said strap device comprising: a pair of first, spaced strap means for encircling said luggage, said first strap means adapted to extend along a first pair of opposed sides of a protruding handle on said luggage piece;   a pair of cross strap means secured at spaced positions on and extending between said first strap means for holding said first strap means together, said cross strap means adapted to extend along a second pair of opposed sides of said protruding handle;   each of said first strap means and cross strap means being foremd from flexible, stretch resistant material;   said first strap means including a pair of woven fabric strap s of generally equal length and being generally parallel to and coterminous with one another; said cross strap means including a pair of woven fabric straps of generally equal length extending at a right angle to said first straps;   securing means on at least one end of each of said first strap means for securing the respective ends of said first strap means to one another to encircle and reinforce said luggage piece;   said cross strap means and the poritons of said first strap means between said spaced cross strap means forming confining means for surrounding and receiving therein said protruding handle on said luggage piece to prevent said strap device from sliding or being pulled off said luggage piece when said first strap means are secured around said luggage piece with said securing means.   
     
     
       20. The combination of claim 19 wherein said cross straps are spaced apart along said first straps a distance less than the distance by which said parallel first straps are spaced apart. 
     
     
       21. The combination of a piece of luggage of the type including a handle protruding from one surface thereof and a strap device for reinforcing said luggage against opening, said strap device comprising: a pair of first, spaced means for encircling said luggage, said first strap means adapted to extend along a first pair of opposed sides of a protruding handle on said luggage piece;   a pair of cross strap means secured at spaced positions on and extending between said first strap means for holding said first strap means together, said cross strap means adapted to extend along a second pair of opposed sides of said protruding handle;   each of said first strap means and cross strap means being formed from flexible, stretch resistant material;   securing means on at least one end of each of said first strap means for securing the respective ends of said first strap means to one another to encircle and reinforce said luggage piece; said cross strap means and the portions of said first strap means between said spaced cross strap means forming confining means for surrounding and receiving therein said protruding handle on said luggage piece to prevent said strap device from sliding or being pulled off said luggage piece when said first strap means are secured around said luggage piece with said securing means;   the distance between said first strap means being equal to or less than the distance from one side of said handle to at least the opposite edge of the surface of said luggage from which said handle protrudes.   
     
     
       22. The combination of claim 14 wherein the distance between said first strap means is less than the distance between any feet on said luggage, said first strap means engaging the inner surfaces of such feet to prevent removal from said luggage.